Wildlife at Bloedel: The Barred Owl

Beautiful to See, Hard to Spot

The staff at the Bloedel Reserve has been seeing Barred Owls (Strix varia) in recent days more frequently than normal. Usually we do not see this owl until we get close enough to scare it, causing it to fly a short distance to another roost. While Barred Owls are generally nocturnal, it is possible to run across them during the day. They are more likely to be active on overcast days than on sunny ones. So the cool morning hours are your best bet for seeing an owl at Bloedel Reserve, particularly if there is a morning layer of fog, as is often the case during our Puget Sound summers. Keep a sharp lookout and you may encounter a Barred Owl along the trails as you walk the grounds.

One of the reasons Barred Owls are so hard to spot is that they build their nests in well-hidden locations, high up in tree hollows or snags. If their preferred spots aren’t available, these owls have been known to take over the nests of other birds or squirrels. Owls are opportunistic predators, eating whatever small prey they can catch. Mostly they feed on small birds and mammals including mice, rats, and squirrels. Owl research has shown, however, that they will also eat lizards, frogs, insects, slugs, earthworms, crayfish, and even occasionally bats. If you do encounter a Barred Owl, it will most likely because it is out scanning for prey.

Barred Owls aren’t the only wildlife species you’ll see at Bloedel Reserve, although they are among the less common. Odds are pretty good that you will see deer, rabbits, ducks, warblers, and possibly an eagle or two. Sightings of coyotes, woodpeckers, herons, and otters on the grounds do happen, but they are rare. Whatever creatures you encounter, please enjoy them from a distance (not that they’ll let you get close anyway). Bloedel Reserve is not just a haven for plants and humans. It’s an important refuge for a surprising variety of birds, insects, amphibians and mammals as well.